Dale Cresap's blog

Daily Journal

Have you ever considered something to be an insult to your intelligence? This term covers a range of activities from belaboring the obvious to attempts to convince you of something obviously false. Do you consider revelatory knowledge to be an insult to your intelligence? For your faith involves the premise of truth claims such as the validity of the Bible. Many believers will accept the Bible and then proceed by their own efforts to figure out from it how they should live. Does your pride make you think you can do this on your own? Blessed are those who do not consider the leading of the Spirit to be an insult to their intelligence. 

Daily Devotional Journal

Are you familiar with the idea of established churches? In a strict sense this refers to government supported and sanctioned churches. Formally established churches are becoming rarer throughout the world despite antidisestablishmentarianism. Yet even without direct government involvement churches are considered a part of “the establishment” for good reason. But I and my followers were not. We were outsiders. The establishment is comfortable and predictable, but it is not in a position to be an agent of transformation because it is invested in the current system. Are you prepared to bear my reproach outside the camp and join the revolution?

Daily Devotional Journal

Do you think the boundaries of heaven and earth are rigid and fixed, and that there is no communication between these realms? Consider the time of advent. There were several heavenly messengers, signs in the sky, and the very first Christmas music program, put on by angels. This was an unusual time, but not entirely unique. For you are surrounded by and immersed in a supernatural world whether you are aware of it or not, and there have been other times of visitation. You know of the existence of this realm by faith. Are you prepared to see it with your own eyes? 

Daily Devotional Journal

Have you ever heard it said that you are never too old to learn? Do you really embrace this principle, or do you think that above a certain age you are exempt from learning new things? There is more to know than any one person can know, and the body of knowledge keeps increasing, so you should be selective in what you acquire, but this and age should not limit your appetite for learning. You expect children to be teachable. Do you have the humility to realize how much you do not know, and to seek it out, and to change in accordance with what you find out? Learning will keep you alive and growing at any age. 

Daily Devotional Journal

What type of pictures do you see in office cubicles. Do you expect to find pictures of people and animals and mountains and forests and lakes? If you live surrounded by man-made things these pictures may express a longing for a connection with the things that I have made. It is not good for you to be alone, and you were not meant to live in isolation. I promised to give you the desires of your heart. Don’t take this as a blanket approval of everything you want, for desires can be distorted and made into idols. Let your longing for the refreshment you receive by connecting with the things I have made be a reflection of your longing for me. 

Daily Devotional Journal

Do you ever feel that you love others more than they love you? You might be right. Perfect symmetry is rare in any relationship, and so one party will be more highly invested in it than the other is. Do you resent it when this happens, because you feel you are making a greater sacrifice and not receiving the same in return? But would you rather be the one who loves less? Love is the theme of the Bible and your goal as a believer. You are able to do it because I first loved you. Rejoice when you are able to love more, for great is your reward in heaven, and remember that in our relationship I am the one who is more loving, so in doing this for others you become more like me. Freely you have received, freely give. 

Daily Devotional Journal

Do you have people falling down at your feet asking what they must do to be saved? If they did, you would know just what to say, but do you get much business of this type? The people around you walk in darkness, and your message of light and life is what they need, but how can their eyes be opened to see this? How blessed are the feet of those who preach the good news of the gospel. Do you think this occurs only in the pulpit on Sunday mornings? But those who need the message aren’t there to hear it. Let those feet be your feet, and that voice your voice. Expand your understanding of what it means to preach, and then do it. Get those feet moving and let your light shine. 

Daily Devotional Journal

Have you ever heard it said that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing? Did you think this applied only to skills and academics? Could it be true for spiritual knowledge? Have you met believers who know enough to think that everyone below them is in darkness and everyone above them is in false doctrine? My word says that knowledge puffs up, and this is particularly true of spiritual knowledge. On the other hand, love is edifying. Which do you think is the goal of the Christian life? There isn’t anything inherently wrong with gaining spiritual knowledge. Let yours make you more loving instead of less. 

Daily Devotional Journal

Is it important to you to be right? Do you suppose that everyone else feels the same way? Yet you do not agree with one another. What then? Here we have conflicting principles. What does the Bible say about being right as opposed to being loving and gracious? Eating meat offered to idols may not be an important issue today, but it once was, and the same principles still apply. Your superior knowledge does not allow you to cause your brother to stumble, or to correct him by force. If your knowledge is superior, then let your love and grace be also, and know when to keep silent and when to speak. 

Daily Devotional Journal

How do you study the Bible? Have you been to Bible studies where the prevailing idea was that I gave you a Bible and a brain, and if you apply yourself with enough fervor you can figure it out? This is the attitude of your rationalist culture. Does the Bible itself support it? I told my critics to search the scriptures in which they thought they had eternal life, but they would not come to me to have life. The issue here isn’t being smarter or working harder. I promised to send the Comforter to lead you into all truth. Do you understand this to include the meaning of the Bible? It should mean this more than anything else. Do you study the Bible from this perspective?